Rose

[The Madcap]

A single rose
On a stem
On a bush
Near the fence

Full-flowered, alone
Scarlet on velvet
Petals spread wide
Absorbing the sunlight
On a breezeless day
Bright blue

Protected from harm by sharp thorns below
The rose stands in the midst
Of a sea of green leaves
With nearby buds awaiting their bloom

Deep in the center
A golden prize for the bees
Hovering nearby
Droplets of water
From the morning’s shower
Mirrors of light reflecting

--

Then, a shake
The rose tilts to the side
Sheared from the bush
By a hand

A single stem taken
The rose at its end
Held gently and carried
In care

From the young man to his love
The rose is now given
A token of love young and new
Now not just a flower
But a sign of possibility
Between the young couple in bloom.